Recently the African Union Commission (Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security) and South Sudan’s Ministry of Youth and Sports jointly organized a Training for Trainers on Youth Participation in the Political and Electoral Process in South Sudan, the training was held from 29-31 May 2023, in Juba.
The African Union is cognizant of the fact that there’s still a need to further deepen the political space and create broader avenues for meaningful engagement. Its Continental Aspirations enlisted on Agenda 2063 (Aspiration 6) focus on the need for youth engagement. The African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (ACDEG) also supports the engagement of citizens particularly women and youth which is reflected in the AGA-Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA-YES). Predominantly, the Union understands that meaningful engagement of youth cannot be achieved without creating cohorts of young people who understand the legal, policy, and administrative context for meaningful youth participation and engagement in their respective countries.
Meaningful youth engagement particularly on the Continent is not just a demographic argument but largely a developmental one. Increased meaningful youth engagement creates ownership and strategic partnership with an affluent group of society that can drive democratization as well as development, It’s under the belief the AUC put provisions in place to support Member States by filling in capacity gaps. As a country in transition and through the implementation of the peace process and preparing for the election in the year 2024, the Republic of South Sudan needs the support of the AU to build its capacity.
Elections remain critical exercises for all countries and the Republic of South Sudan is no different. As the youngest country that gained its independence recently and is still in the process of strengthening its institutions that can facilitate democratic transitions. In this back group, the AUC must remain at the center of building the capacity of democratic governance institutions like the EMBs by fostering the involvement of young people. Although the South Sudanese government has placed several strategies to support the meaningful engagement of youth in its political processes it has been hampered by capacity and resource challenges limiting its delivery.
This is where the AU and other institutions on the platform come into play and fill the capacity gaps to support the Republic of South Sudan. Training programs that awaken youth to engage in the electoral system is critical and through that youth can also appreciate and value being citizens and what their contribution must be to their country. It is also believed that this support will go a long way in addressing various fundamental challenges and unlocking the transformational abilities of South Sudan’s young people for progress.
